Title: Needle and Thread
Author: David Pinckney
Genre: realistic fiction/graphic novel
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Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Choosing between living the life you want and living the life you're "supposed to have" is not always an easy choice. Noah, embracing his true-self, wants to pursue a career in costume design, something his loving, public service parents would never approve of. Azarie, the perfect, model daughter of a very stern, traditional family, dreams of embracing the hobbies she secretly loves, hobbies her social circle would never abide by. The two live different lives and their social statuses keep them from ever crossing paths until they have a chance encounter that exposes some common ground: the desire to be who they truly are. Together, the two set out to put it all on the line and show everyone what they're made of and what they want to achieve in the form of cosplay. Their growing friendship will be tested and their faith in themselves, as well as each other, will be tried.
My opinion: I've been fascinated by the recent trend of fashion as it's connected to cosplay. Where once cosplay was a weird thing that desperate nerds engaged in, now it is recognized as a legitimate skill worth applauding. Now, apart from the cosplay element, this is a pretty standard exploration of kids dealing with parental expectations. Both sets of parents express pretty extreme disapproval of the hobbies and interests of their kids. Noah's parents push him towards an interest in sports and a future in medicine, treating his sewing as a hobby that he will grow out of. Azarie's parents dictate every element of her life - her friends, her clothing, her behavior. The characters are pretty straightforward, the parents lacking in complexity.
More information: Needle and Thread releases September 15.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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